The process is simplified for OCI cardholders below 20 years of age. In a move towards eliminating the hassles of using an OCI card, the Government of India now requires the Overseas Citizen of Indian cardholders to get their OCI cards reissued only once when they turn 20 years old. Until this announcement, Indian-origin foreign citizens below 20 years of age had to get the OCI card reissued each time the passport was renewed.
Foreign citizens of Indian origin, who have registered as OCI cardholders before reaching the age of 20 years, will get the card reissued not more than once only on renewal of the passport after they attain the age of 20 years, so that the OCI card has their new photo capturing their facial features on turning 20.
If Indian-origin foreign passport holders have registered as OCI cardholders after they turned 20, they don’t need to get the OCI card reissued on renewal of the passport unlike before this amendment to the process. The need to get the OCI card reissued with a new photo will arise on their completion of 50 years of age.
“Now OCI cardholders below 20 years of age can travel to India without worrying about reissuance of the document. The decision on simplifying the process and relaxing the rules, which will facilitate entry to India for OCI cardholders below 20 years, is a great move, indeed. The government has issued nearly 37.75 lakh OCI cards so far,” said the Editor of Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal with focus on travel to and from India.
All that OCI cardholders, who are below 20 years of age, need to do is to upload a scanned copy of the new passport and their latest photo on the OCI portal online whenever their passport is renewed until they complete 20 years of age. They can upload the documents within 3 months of having received the new passport. This requirement is mandatory as the Government of India needs to update the data regarding new passports issued to OCI cardholders prior to their completion of 20 years of age. They will receive an e-acknowledgement upon submission of the documents.
This is a good move, but the question is, when MEA will start following this new process? I have checked “OCI Miscellaneous Services” under https://ociservices.gov.in/ today (04/17/2021), there is no mention of this simplified process outlined in the above article. Does anybody have any idea when this will start?
The site (pdf doc) is now updated on the ociservices.gov site. They’re working on it.
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Appropriate modifications are being made in the OCI Miscellaneous Services portal to implement the above decisions. This is expected to be launched by end May, 2021. OCI cardholders are therefore requested to wait for the updation of the portal before submitting any application for re-issue of OCI card.
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Cheers
So what happens if an existing OCI cardholder renews the passport at 19 yrs of age. Will he/she need to get new OCI card once more after he/she attains 20 years of age ?
Hi San! Existing OCI card holder need not get their OCI card reissued until they turn 20. However, they need to upload their latest photograph and a scanned copy of the passport on the online OCI portal whenever the passport is renewed till they turn 20 years old.
What about existing OCI cardholder around 49 yrs of age ? Will he/she has to get OCI reissued if a new passport is issued 51 years of age ? Or just uploading the new passport details at the portal will suffice ?
Hi San! Existing OCI card holder (49 years of age) need to get their OCI card reissued once again after they attain 50 years of age.
Existing OCI cardholder 19 hrs of age gets new passport issued which is valid for 10 years. Will he/she still need to get the OCI card reissued when he turns 20 or when he turns 19+10 = 29 yrs of age ?
Hi Nur! They need to get the OCI card reissued upon renewal of passport after turning 20, that is at 29 years of age in his/her case. For the new passport issued now, they need to upload their latest photograph and a scanned copy of the new passport on OCI portal online.
Hi
I have just completed an online OCI renewal application.
It still has not shown up on your system and I have not received any confirmation.
Can she still travel to India without the confirmation if she has her oci, old and new passport?
Or does she need it to be updated on the website?
Please do let me know.
Thanks,
Hi Dipan! As per the existing relaxation through December 2022, she can travel with the OCI card, the old and new passports. However, please make sure to check the same with the airline that she will travel on.
i am 79 tears of age and have OCI card since 2010 and citizen of US. Do I have to renew my OCI card
Hello Sir! You are not needed to renew your OCI card.
What is the portal to upload the latest picture and passport for age 18? can you please post the portal here so I can upload my new renewed passport and latest picture.
Hi San! You can log on to https://ociservices.gov.in/
if an OCI card was issued when a person was 65 years old and that person is now 80 yrs old and had the US passport renewed in 2016,what is he/she required to do?
Hi Nagin! When OCI cardholders turn 50 or more, they need to get the OCI card reissued on renewal of their passport.
Please check the government site.
https://ociservices.gov.in/MiscNew.pdf
It’s clearly stated that re-issue is required only once after reach 20 years of age.
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Further, Central Government vide orders dated 16.04.2021 has now dispensed with the requirement to re-issue an OCI card each time a new passport is issued to a foreigner up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. Re-issue of OCI card will now be required only once i.e. when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age. However, OCI cardholder will be required to upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo and also a latest photo on the online system each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age.
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Which option on the OCI website I should use to upload latest passport copy? I am not clear with this option. Can somebody tell us steps to do if they have done it recently. Thanks!
Hi – The upload option is not yet ready.
They’re still working on it.
You can check the status here.
[https://ociservices.gov.in/]
[Latest Notice for OCI Misc service applicants] <<==== PDF doc
Cheers.
Hi,
I have come across this information on a Indian embassy web page:
“The Government of India has decided to grant extension of time till
31.12.2021 to all eligible foreigners to get their OCI cards re-issued, if so
required. Accordingly, the OCI cardholders whose OCI cards require reissuance
must take steps to comply with the existing OCI guidelines and
renew their OCI cards as required under existing regulations. As per existing
regulations/guidelines, the OCI card must be renewed each time a new
passport is issued up to the completion of 20 years of age and once after
completing 50 years of age.”
Does that mean a person who is 20 years old with a new passport but with a old OCI card can still travel with his existing OCI card? Does that mean he has time till 31-Dec-2021 to get his OCI card renewed?
Thanks,
Ravi
Hi Ravi! The Government of India now requires the Overseas Citizen of Indian cardholders to get their OCI cards reissued only once when they turn 20 years old.
DId you get you answer? I am in the same situation as you are
Hi Akash! OCI cardholders, irrespective of age, can travel to India carrying their old OCI card and new passport until December 31, 2021.
Hello My daughter just turn 21 years old in June 2021. We have the OCI Card issued in 2010 for her. She had her new passport renewed in Sept 2020. We wanted to travel to India next month in August 2021. Will she be ok to travel with her OCI (as per the rule for 21 years old) ? Please advice.
Thanks
Hi FL! OCI card holders have to get it reissued only once on renewal of passport after they turn 20. Since your daughter had her passport renewed after she turned 20 (September 2020) she might have to get her OCI card reissued.
But can she travel this August based on this https://www.cgisf.gov.in/news_detail/?newsid=106 ?
Thanks in advance
Hi, There is is gap which was not filled. Please read below.
My Son who is 6 years old with renewed British Passport on date 16th Dec 2020
He has OCI card done with old UK passport His OCI Card issued on 10/04/2019.
As per information on a Indian embassy web page:
“The Government of India has decided to grant extension of time till
31.12.2021 to all eligible foreigners to get their OCI cards re-issued” – Does this mean i can travel with my son to india in Aug 2021 with Old UK Passport + Existing OCI Card + New UK passport ?
Also there is a condition saying for renewal of OCI card Passport should be issued no later than 3 months. So what happens if some one misses to apply for renewal of OCI card with in this time? For example in my son’s case its not possible to avail the online service to update the details.
Hi Subhani! You son can travel to India with the new passport and the old passport carrying the existing OCI card number. As your son’s passport was renewed in December 2020, all you need to do is to upload a copy of the new/renewed passport and a copy of his latest photo on the OCI card portal.
I’ve uploaded the latest passport copy on the OCI Misc SErvice but I haven’t received an acknowledgement yet. Within what time do they acknowledge that they received it and it got updated/fine.
my daughter is 20 yrs and we renewed the passport in july 2021 , we are travelling in 20th august, we haven’t renewed the oci, as it is relaxed till 31st dec 2021, can she travel now with old and new passport and old oci
Hi Uma! She can.
Hello,
My mother holds a OCI card that was issues after she turned 50. She just recently renewed her US passport. Will she need to do anything? From my research it looks like only if you had an OCI card issued before 50 years of age you may need to have the OCI card reissued. Is that correct?
Hi Maneesh! As per the norms, if the passport is renewed after one’s 50 years of age, the OCI card should be reissued.
I am 56 yrs and my wife 51 years, we both renewed passport in August 2018 , we are planning to travel on Sep 17th, we haven’t renewed the oci, as it is relaxed till 31st dec 2021, So we can travel now with old and new passports.
Hi Srini! Yes, you can travel until December 31, 2021.
My husband is turned 50 years 3 days ago but his passport is not expiring until 2029, what about his OCI? Does he need to get new oci just because he turned 50!!! Please be advise.
Thank you
Hi Arti! As per the OCI card rules, an OCI cardholder needs to get his/her OCI card reissued once he/she turns 50. FYI, your husband can travel to and from India with the existing OCI card and passport till before December 31, 2022.
They can upload the documents within 3 months of having received the new passport. This requirement is mandatory as the Government of India needs to update the data regarding new passports issued to OCI cardholders prior to their completion of 20 years of age.
In my case my kid’s passport got renewed in March 2021 and she is 5 years old. As per the new rule I do not need to get a OCI card reissued. But it also says to update the data regarding new passports issues to OCI cardholders within 3 months of receiving passport. So in my case, can I upload new passport on the portal now after almost 6 months? I could not do it earlier as the SFO consulate was still working on making these changes at that time.
Hi Ajeet! You can do.
Hello – Can you please share a step by step document on how to upload passport and photo?
Regards
Shivanand Mali
My Daughter got a new US passport when she was 17 years old and now she is 22 but still have old OCI card .We are planning visit to INDIA in Nov 2021, Can she travel with old OCI card, New passport + Old passport?
I just turned 50 and received new passport and didn’t renewed my OCI card yet .Can I travel with new passport and OCI card. BTW we had uploaded our(myself and my daughter’s) new passports +photos+signatures in OCI website and received OCI-Application File-Number.
Please advice
Hi Murali! As per the relaxation, she can travel to India with the old OCI card, the old passport and the new passport. You can travel too. Please note some airlines denied boarding to OCI cardholders not having renewed their OCI cards after 20 or 50 years, as per reports. So be advised to check with the airline that you will travel on.
Question to Indian Eagle: My son turned 20 years in September, 2021. He is travelling to India before December 31st,2021 with his existing OCI, old US passport and new US passport. We are returning back on Jan, 2022. As per the relaxed re-issuance rules, can he travel to India before Dec 31st, 2021? We will apply for OCI re-issuance after we are back from India trip.
Question to Uma: Was your 20 year old daughter permitted to travel with her existing OCI? Which airline did you take? Are airlines who stop you if they don’t have clarity from Indian Government?
Hi Adi! Your son can travel to India before DEC 31 and travel back in JAN 2022.
my daughter got her US passport renewed when she’s 18 and passport is valid till 2028 and got a new OCI card with the renewed passport 2 years ago. She just turned 20? do we need to apply for reissue of OCI? can she travel with the OCI and the passport?
Hi Srini! As per the rules, an OCI cardholder must get the OCI card reissued when she/she turns 20. However, this is relaxed for travel to India until December 31, 2021.
Thank you for your reply. Indian eagle. May be my question was not clear. The OCI was issued after the passport was renewed and the next renewal is in 2028. Nothing has changed – same passport which was submitted for issuing the new OCI. Only thing is that she’s 20 now. Do we still apply for reissue of OCI? Appreciate your clarity.
I was looking at the misc services this is what it states –
1. In case issuance of new Passport Details (each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age) – after the new/renewed passport only new OCI was issued.
1. In case of issuance of new passport (once a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age.) – this also not the case since the passport is valid for another 6 or so years.
Also with the relaxed rule – can she travel to India on 24th of Dec and return on 15th of Jan?
Appreciate your help.
My wife got her OCI when she was 49 years and 9 months. She renewed her passport in 2016 and had travelled to India with the OCI card, new passport and old passport. She did not experience any problem up to 2019. We did not know that the OCI card has to be reissued once she turned 50 and got her passport renewed. She is planning to go to India during the first week of January 2022. She had uploaded her new passport, recent photo and signature using the miscellaneous services of the OCI portal and received an acknowledgement. The passport details were updated not within 3 months of getting the new passport. Will she be allowed to enter India? Please advise.
Hi Tomy! She may not be allowed to enter India after December 31, 2021.
My question is about OCI. I am 27 years old. I got my OCI in 2011. My new passport was obtained before I was 20 . (Expiry date in 2023).
It is different from the passport I originally had when I got my OCI card. Do I need to update my photo and signature? If so, what is the procedure? Kindly advice.
Hi Sujatha! As per the rules, your OCI card must be renewed as you are now over 20 years of age.
I got my OCI after 20 years old for the first time. I am Canadian. My passport expired in 2018. Do i still need to renew my OCI?
Hi Priya! In our knowledge, you don’t need to renew your OCI card. However, it is recommended that you better check with the Embassy or the nearest Consulate.
Hello! My child got her passport renewed in Dec 2021. She turned 20 in Feb 2022. When I am filling out application for miscellaneous service, the system is taking me down the route of new OCI card to be issued because as of today, the child is 20 years old. However, the passport was issued when she was 19. Let’s say I go through with this process now and get new OCI issued now, what will happen when her passport get renewed at age 29?
Hello Mr. Mehta! Foreign citizens of Indian origin need to get the OCI card re-issued only once after they turn 20, or if the passport is renewed after they turn 21.
Thanks for your quick response. Where I’m still unclear is that the OCI website is treating my current request such that they will issue a new OCI card – passport issued when child is 19yr 10mo and application being submitted when they are 20.
I am on the same boat Mehta. Toomuch confusion for uploading documents vs reissuing new OCI
Hi,
My Daughter who is now 7 years old and had her OCI card issued while she was 4 months old.
Now do we need to renew the OCI or just update photo and her signature on oci website.
We are planning to visit India next week (15th March). Can she travel?
If we update photo and passport how long it wil take the system to be update so that she can travel?
If any issue can we apply for 1 or 3 months visa and travel?
Thanks
Hi Sangram! The OCI card must be updated if her passport has been renewed. It will maximum 7 days for the system to update the OCI card. Or else, you can apply for a regular entry X visa that allows stay in India more than 30 days on a single visit.
Hi
Many thanks for your quick reply. Today we updated OCI card and got a system generated message saying that it has been submitted. Is there is anyway to know that it is actually updated in the system so that my daughter can travel. We are also aplying for evisa.
Regards,
Sangram
Hi, my kids, 17 and 14 yrs old, got their passports in early 2021 and their OCIs a week ago. Do they need to upload their recent photo to be able to travel to India now?
Hi Tina! They received the OCI card after they got the passport. Hence, no need to upload their recent photo to the OCI website.
My son was 19 years old when we applied and got his OCI and his passport expired six months later and now he has turned 20 and new passport renewed in march 2022. what do i need to do?
Hi,
My daughter is 22. She had renewed her passport in 2017 ( at the age of 17). She is now travelling to India. Can she travel with her current OCI? She did not get it reissued yet.
Hi,
I have a 6 years old Kid and we applied OCI in 2017 and he got his new passport in 2021. We updated new passport details and his latest pic in the month of june,2022. I am waiting for the approval status, current status is “Your application has been acknowledged by competent authorities. It is under consideration.”
We are planning to visit India in the month of July 2022, can I go ahead and apply for e-visa as my kid status is still in progress. What visa type that I can select for the question during e-visa “Have you travel to india before” if yes then select the visa types. No option for OCI card holders, I tried to select Entry visa but it’s not accepting.
How I can proceed further. Please advice. Thanks in advance
Hi Chaitanya! In our knowledge, your kid can travel to India with the existing OCI card, the old and new passports. This relaxation is in place till December 31, 2022. You can also check with the airline that you will travel on.
Thanks for the update. Will cross check with the respective airline.
Hi Chaitanya, Did you travelled to India with existing OCI card, the old and new passports.
What happened after uploading new passport details and kids latest picture.
Thanks
Hello, my son is 22 years old and his US passport was renewed in 2016 (when he was 16 years old)and is expiring in 2026. The OCI was issued in 2009. Should his OCI be reissued/renewed now or wait until after his passport is renewed?
Thanks.
I’m 19 years old and my oci still hasn’t been acknowledged yet and my flight is next month can I still travel to India with my old OCI card?
Hi Harry! Your scenario is not clear to us. Kindly contact the Indian Embassy or an Indian consulate for precise information.
Hi,
My OCI was issued when I was 11 years old and it was based on my old passport which was issued when I was 7 years old. I’ve had 2 passports issued since receiving my OCI, but never updated my OCI with these 2 passports. I have been able to enter India with no issues as long as I brought all of my old passports. I am over 20 years old, my passport expires in 2 years when I am 27 years old, and my current passport was updated when I was 17 years old. If I want to go to India in 2023, do I need to update my OCI with my latest passport which was issued when I was 17 years old or can I wait 2 years until my passport renews and update my OCI with that passport? In 2023, can I still enter India with all my old passports and OCI?
Many Thanks,
Justina
I am stuck in The AirPort as OIC is not re issued
My mom turned 50 year old past November and she had got her OCI at the age of 43 back in 2015 and her USA passport expires in 2025
so at this moment does she need to fill out an application to re-issue her OCI ?? or she can wait till 2025 and update the information online only which is free of charge..
Hi Priya! In our knowledge, she can update the information online.
When ?
Right now or whenever she renew her u.s passport in 2025?
Hello,
I refer to your article “Indian-origin Foreign Citizens below 20 Years of Age don’t Need to Get OCI Card Reissued Multiple Times” and need some advice.
My daughter received her OCI before she was 20 and a renewed passport before she reached 20 years of age which will expire in 2027. My daughter is now over 20, we had not updated the OCI with picture, signature and new passport before she was 20. We are now planning on visiting India, when I go to update OCI, it is not allowing me to update and asking me to apply for a new OCI. Would I be allowed to travel with old and new passports plus OCI ? Thanks
Hi Vinod! An Indian-origin foreign citizen needs to update his/her OCI card until 20 years of age. Once 20 years of age is over, he/she needs to get the OCI card reissued. Precisely, they should apply for a new OCI card.
It is recommended that you check with the Embassy or consulate whether your daughter can travel with the old OCI card.
my sons OCI was issued in 2017. He got his new passport in 2019 and travelled to India on his new passport in 2019 without any issue. Does he need to get a new OCI card? Our travel is in 2 days. Appreciate your earliest answer.
Hi Kumar! If your son is below 20, you need to update his new passport information on the OCI portal. If your son is above 20, his OCI card needs to be reissued with the new passport information. It is recommended that you contact the Indian Embassy or the nearest Consulate and check with them.
I got my OCI when I was over 20 years of age. My passport has renewed since, and I am below 50 years of age. Do I need to do anything with regards to updating new passport details on the OCI website?
Hi Asif! As per the OCI rules, you need to get the OCI card reissued if your passport is renewed after your 20 years of age.
Hello, but I think this doesn’t really answer my question. My 1st OCI card was issued to me when I was 33. I am currently 40 and my passport has now renewed. In that case do I need to do anything?
Yes, you should upload your passport details to the OCI portal.
I have 3 scenarios, Need help from someone per latest rule
1. My son 21 years old now, got new USA passport in Year 2024. He has OCI card before 20 Years. I guess he has to apply for new OCI card under MICS servive
2. My other daughter is 29 year old now. she is having OCI card issued after age 20. Her USA passport is due for renewal in 2026, Does she need a new OCi card once new apssort in 2026.
3. I am 58 year old now. I have OCI card issued after 50 years. I am getting new passport in 2026. do i need new OCI card? If not do i have to carry the old paasport?
Hi Ramesh! In our opinion, your daughter needs to get her passport number (after renewal) updated on her OCI because her OCI was issued after she turned 20. The same applies to you.
I have 3 scenarios, Need help from someone per latest rule
1. My son 21 years old now, got new USA passport in Year 2024. He has OCI card before 20 Years. I guess he has to apply for new OCI card under MICS servive
2. My other daughter is 29 year old now. she is having OCI card issued after age 20. Her USA passport is due for renewal in 2026, Does she need a new OCi card once new apssort in 2026.
3. I am 58 year old now. I have OCI card issued after 50 years. I am getting new passport in 2026. do i need new OCI card? If not do i have to carry the old paasport?